Gabriel, Hanukkah, and the Prince of Peace

Gabriel’s war, Gabriel’s peace

Gabriel, Hanukkah, and the Prince of Peace

How do you feel about prophesy?

What do you know about Hanukkah? Do you celebrate it?

What do you know about angels?

Did Jesus fight in a war?

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 8)

In the third year of King Belshazzar’s^Babylon reign, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that had appeared to me earlier.  I saw the vision, and as I watched, I was in the fortress city of Susa, in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal.  I looked up, and there was a ram standing beside the canal. He had two horns. The two horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one came up last.  I saw the ram charging to the west, the north, and the south. No animal could stand against him, and there was no rescue from his power. He did whatever he wanted and became great.

In the third year of King Belshazzar’s^Babylon^ reign, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that had appeared to me earlier^4 beasts^.  I saw the vision, and as I watched, I was in the fortress city of Susa^Iran^, in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal.  I looked up, and there was a ram^Persia (Iran)^ standing beside the canal. He had two horns^Medes and Persian empire^. The two horns were long, but one was longer than the other^Persia^, and the longer one came up last.  I saw the ram charging to the west^Babylon,Syria, & Asia Minor^, the north^Armenia & Scythia^, and the south^Egypt & Ethiopia^. No animal could stand against him, and there was no rescue from his power. He^Persia, led by Cyrus the Great^ did whatever he wanted and became great^largest empire in history to date^.

Persian rulers carried Ram’s heads into battle

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 8)

As I was observing, a male goat^Greece^ appeared, coming from the west across the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground^fast^. The goat had a conspicuous horn^Alexander_the_Great^ between his eyes.  He came toward the two-horned ram^Persia^ I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with savage fury.  I saw him approaching the ram, and infuriated with him, he struck the ram, breaking his two horns, and the ram was not strong enough to stand against him. The goat threw him to the ground and trampled him, and there was no one to rescue the ram from his power.  Then the male goat acted even more arrogantly, but when he became powerful, the large horn was broken. Four conspicuous horns came up in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven^4_generals_divided_Alexanders_empire^.

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 8)

From one of them a little horn^Antiochus_IV_Epiphanes^ emerged and grew extensively toward the south^Egypt^ and the east^Persia^ and toward the beautiful land^Palestine^. It grew as high as the heavenly army^chosen_people^, made some of the army and some of the stars^Jews^ fall to the earth, and trampled them.  It acted arrogantly even against the Prince^high_priest_assassinated_170BC^ of the heavenly army; it revoked his regular sacrifice and overthrew the place of his sanctuary^Temple^.  In the rebellion, the army was given up, together with the regular sacrifice. The horn threw truth to the ground and was successful in what it did. Then I heard a holy one^angel^ speaking, and another holy one^angel^ said to the speaker, “How long will the events of this vision last—the regular sacrifice, the rebellion that makes desolate^pig_sacrificed_to_Zeus_in_Temple^, and the giving over of the sanctuary and of the army to be trampled?” He^God^ said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings^6.5_years^; then the sanctuary will be restored.” [Maccabean victory, Hanukkah, Dec. 14th, 164 BC]

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 8)

While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there stood before me someone who appeared to be a man.  I heard a human voice^Jesus^ calling from the middle of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.” So he approached where I was standing; when he came near, I was terrified and fell facedown. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision refers to the time of the end.”  While he was speaking to me, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me, made me stand up,  and said, “I am here to tell you what will happen at the conclusion of the time of wrath, because it refers to the appointed time of the end^of_desecration^.  The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.  The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes represents the first king.  The four horns that took the place of the broken horn represent four kingdoms. They will rise from that nation, but without its power.

Daniel 8:23–27 (CSB)

Near the end of their kingdoms, when the rebels have reached the full measure of their sin, a ruthless king^Antiochus_IV_Epiphanes^, skilled in intrigue, will come to the throne. His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause outrageous destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the powerful along with the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper through his cunning and by his influence, and in his own mind he will exalt himself. He will destroy many in a time of peace; he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken—not by human hands. The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true. Now you are to seal up the vision because it refers to many days in the future.” I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was greatly disturbed by the vision and could not understand it.

Jesus himself predicted that he would save his people at Hanukkah

Mattathias Maccabeus was a priest, son of a priest named John. He refused to sacrifice to the Greek gods as required by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, which started the revolt. His son, Judas Maccabeus, successfully completed the revolt culminating in the cleansing of the Temple and the Hanukkah “8 days on one day of oil” lights. He is considered the first Pharisee. He taught that zeal (passion and devotion to God) would lead to grace and salvation.

Both King Herods in the NT are descended from Simon Maccabees (the High Priest, brother of Judas Maccabees, the general).

The Pharisees (literally “separatists” from the time of Hanukkah) were the political party of the Maccabees. Their families still controlled the temple in Jesus’s day.

The Zealots were inspired by the Maccabees and Hanukkah to overthrow Rome. Simon the Zealot was a disciple of Jesus.

Galatians 4:4–5 CSB

When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 10)

Then the Festival of Dedication^Hanukkah^ took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter.  Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s Colonnade.  The Jews surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”, “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in my Father’s name testify about me.  But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep.  My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.  Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord.  But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,  it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.  At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.  An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.  When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear.  But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John^Post_Hanukkah_High_Priest^.  There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth.  For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.  He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.  And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news.  Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.  When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them and remained speechless.  When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said,  “The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.”

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,  to a virgin engaged, to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”  But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be.  Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.  He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

Luke 1:46–56 CSB

And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy. His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him. He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; he has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he spoke to our ancestors. And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.